McNeil begins AFL rehab as NLCS looms for Mets

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The moment that the Camelback Ranch gates opened an hour before first pitch Friday night, fans speed walked, jogged and outright sprinted to the edge of the Scottsdale Scorpions' dugout down the first-base line.

The premier prospect showcase usually draws a cavalcade of fans clamoring to see the next big thing before the All-Star appearances or batting titles, but in the case of Jeff McNeil, there were fans in Mets t-shirts of every color flocking to get an autograph or to talk to the seven-year MLB veteran who took the unconventional path of getting in rehab action while his club continues its push toward a World Series title.

On Sept. 6 when McNeil was plunked in the left wrist by the Reds' Brandon Williamson, the fervor around the Mets was percolating. The club had won their eighth straight game and pulled into a tie for the second National League Wild Card spot. But an MRI the next day revealed a fractured right wrist that would sideline McNeil for the rest of the season -- unless the club made a deep postseason run.

Fast forward to Scottsdale's 6-1 defeat to Glendale during the first week of Fall League action and McNeil was back at second base, ripping a hard-hit single to right field in his first plate appearance.

"All good, no problems," McNeil said of his wrist postgame. "I feel like I saw the ball really well tonight too. My first time seeing live pitching in I think five weeks. Swung at good pitches, saw the ball well, got the first single out of the way which is nice. I like how I felt tonight."

In total, McNeil logged five plate appearances, finishing 1-for-4 with a walk. He faced four different pitchers, including Cardinals prospect Ixan Henderson, a left-hander with a funky, deceptive delivery. He also logged eight innings at the keystone, including making a slick backhanded play.

"I'm hoping the ball's hit to me every single time," McNeil said. "The speed of the game, it's quicker than just taking ground balls during practice, so you want the ball to come to you."

While the Mets watched their World Series aspirations blossom over the past few weeks, McNeil saw his family grow. The injury -- and subsequent time away from the team -- proved to be a personal blessing in disguise, as the 32-year-old and his wife welcomed their daughter, Serena Bee, into the world.

But for a player who has logged north of 800 games for the Mets over the past seven years, the big league club -- and its ravenous fan base -- never strayed far from his mind.

"It's been fantastic," McNeil said of watching from afar. "I got to see a lot of it on the TV, but it's been a lot of fun; fans are into it, bringing energy and I'm just glad to be a part of it again."

Assuming McNeil is activated for the NLCS, the Mets must decide how to clear roster space for him. Team officials are considering two options. The straightforward one would be taking rookie and No. 12 prospect Luisangel Acuña off the roster, which makes sense given how sparingly he's played. But Acuña has value as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, especially given manager Carlos Mendoza's desire to remove Mark Vientos late in games with a lead. While McNeil is also a solid defender, he doesn't offer the same speed element as Acuña.

Keeping Acuña around, however, would mean trimming the pitching staff from 13 to 12. That wouldn't necessarily be difficult for the Mets to do, given that they're operating with two starters -- David Peterson and Tylor Megill -- in their bullpen. Partially because of the relief innings those two provided, the Mets just went the first two rounds of the playoffs without using right-hander Adam Ottavino and lefty Danny Young at all.

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But the NLCS is a best-of-seven series, putting more of a premium on pitching depth. Many teams carry the maximum number of pitchers for that reason.

"We are considering every scenario," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Those are some of the conversations we'll continue to have … and we'll make that final call on what's best for the team, whether it's to carry that extra position player, whether it's to just keep it as it is and go with the arms that we've got. There's a lot of different routes here that we could go, and we'll continue to have those dialogues."